OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Saint Joe, IN 46785

Saint Joe: median income $63,250, home value $163,300, $140/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Granton, WI 54436 95%359$61,048$168,000$156 Very close on everything we compare
Unity, WI 54488 95%365$63,571$142,400$116 Very close on everything we compare
Alma Center, WI 54611 94%374$71,667$164,600$137 Very close on everything we compare
Centreville, MI 49032 93%51$66,420$181,500$151 larger
Stetsonville, WI 54480 93%375$68,333$179,900$158 Very close on everything we compare
Bertha, MN 56437 93%609$60,345$123,300$133 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Fordoche, LA 70732 93%830$68,636$178,900$115 Very close on everything we compare
Burr Oak, MI 49030 92%42$69,167$138,400$118 larger
Orrstown, PA 17244 91%390$70,729$207,500$172 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Ledbetter, KY 42058 91%351$66,852$118,700$128 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Lyons, OH 43533 91%50$64,342$169,800$136 Very close on everything we compare
Plainfield, WI 54966 91%305$67,143$156,200$162 Very close on everything we compare
Mulberry Grove, IL 62262 91%283$65,089$123,800$144 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Pierpont, OH 44082 90%226$51,687$151,800$115 Very close on everything we compare
Waynesfield, OH 45896 90%70$62,449$173,000$145 older homes
Camp Douglas, WI 54618 90%328$73,214$168,800$143 larger
Thomson, IL 61285 90%271$68,500$173,100$128 larger · older residents
Atlantic, PA 16111 89%240$70,074$162,300— 6 min longer commute
Mill Creek, PA 17060 89%371$67,159$153,600$183 6 min longer commute
Monroeton, PA 18832 89%436$52,961$152,400$116 Very close on everything we compare
Sycamore, GA 31790 89%672$63,365$113,900$104 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Sherwood, OH 43556 89%19$73,125$195,900$138 pricier homes ($33K more)
Spencerville, OH 45887 89%52$68,409$184,400$131 larger
Sterling, MI 48659 89%194$58,750$146,200$137 larger
Edmore, MI 48829 89%144$63,750$151,900$151 larger · older residents

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.